Ninety New York delegates are part of those gathered at the Republican National Convention this week in Milwaukee.

What You Need To Know

  • Ninety New York delegates are at this week's Republican National Convention

  • Jim DiBlasi is the 22nd Congressional district delegate for New York

  • This is the second time DiBlasi has been a delegate

There is both anticipation and anxiety after Saturday’s assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.

Jim DiBlasi, the 22nd Congressional District delegate who is on the RNC floor this week, does not feel that anxiety. He says he may be the exception since he is a Marine combat veteran.

DiBlasi served as a delegate in 2008 when John McCain was the party's nominee for the presidential election. DiBlasi arrived three days prior to the start of the convention for rules committee meetings and said he saw a lot of the security setup.

He says security is different from 2008, but he also pointed out technology has changed since that time. 

“As a delegate, I get a pass from the New York State [Republican] Party, and you get on the bus. At the bus, you have a local police officer. So you get on the bus, the bus brings you into the gate of the arena, and then you get off," DiBlasi said. "And then you go through a magnetometer and screening and then you go right into the arena.”

His message to New Yorkers is to have hope and keep a positive mindset. He says despite New York being a historically Democrat state, he believes New York is in play for the GOP for this election cycle due to how he says policies have impacted constituents.